Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-30
MARSHAL NEY,S IDENTITY.
He Is Said to Eave Been q MARYLAND
Tobacco Planter Named Rudolph.

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Your notice Of the purpose OF several prom
inent physicians OF the Salisbury section North
Carolina) to exhume the remains OF Peter S.
Ney from their grave at Third Creek, Rowan
County, for the purpose Of ascertaining whether
they are those of the famous Marshal Ney, OF
France" &C, &C., recalls to mind efforts made
more than forty years ago to ascertain and deter.
mine to my own satisfaction whether or not one
Michael Rudolph, who had a small farm on which
he cultivated chiefly tobacco, and small log
cabin at the head Oh Chesapeake Bay. after the
peace OF 1888 with Great Britain, was, In after
times, the famous Michael Ney-the Emperor
NapOleOn'S great marShal-whO was con-
demned to be shot by court-martial at
Paris during the possession of that city by the
actually shot by platoon OF his own corps The
story OF Michael Rudolph, supposed to have be-
come Ney by many persons is too long an one to
tanned at the time from the columns OF I'Oulson's
ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, OF the alleged testimony
OF Marshal Mortier OF France, one OF the witnesses
before the court In Paris which tried and found
him guilty OF treason who, it Is said, In giving MS
opinion OF Ney, said that in his opinion :7Ney
his plugs of tobacco at Cherbourg. The efforts OF
M. Geret, the notorious ex-mfnister OF France
to the United mite States, whose relation had
discussion commenced in Peulson's advertiser and
other papers-the beliefs OF members OF the Ru-
dopn family Con the wlfe's slde in the vicinity Of
ments OF persons or the highest respectability OF
North Carolina. and afterward residents Of Mis-
souri,, all Went then to satisfy me that Michael Ru.
dolph, who was soldier In our southern cam
pagns during our Revolutionary war with Great
Britain, and given, by his comrades the soubri-
afterward won in the Napoleon1c wars (1e brave
deS Draves0 and who, for domestic reasons or sus-
picons, LETT the neighDorhood OF his log cabin one
vessel in which he had been in the
habit of carrying his own and his neigh
Indies, and disappeared, never to appear again ia
that vicinity, as Michael Rudolph.
When our commissioners, sent to the French d.
i0usly ordered out OF the country Mr.. Monroe also
saw and recognized him, it was said. Mr.. Laurens
othink it was, OF South Carolina) is reported to
have said to friend on his return home, s'Do you
remember the soldier, Michael Rudolph, who was
so gallant in our struggle, and who was called by
his comrades THE Dravest OF the brave?'" "Yes"
said his friend. '.What OF him?" swell before
the Directory sent US or passports we were pres
there 1 saw Rudolph, literally lin high feath-
ers,' as a general officer Of the French
Ney's skull was trephined or not or whether Il ia
matter OF importance or interest to the people
OF this country tlat Michael Rudolph, OF sNOrth
East at the head OF the Chesapeake Bay. and the
famous Michael Ney. field marshal OF France. was
one and the same man. am satisfied in my own
mind from the Investigations / made more than
| forty years ago, at Elkton Md, and the papers
published In ST. Louis, Mo-. long after had con-
Cluueu Ily luiulTlcS tHat Michael RuQODh. tthe
bravest OF the brave" in our Continental ARMY
and Michael Ney. French field marshal (most u1,
justly condemned by cOerced military tribunal
in Paris, France, in 1875, were one and the same
man.
1t has been SAID and never TO me) satisfactorily
refuted that poor soldier was pensioned by the
EMPIRE and when he asked for what that bounty
was bestowed upon him, he was told, his name was
Ney and he was the father OF the great Field Mar
shall Bot uibOrO. The descendants OF the French
Marshal are rich, and were under the second empire
powerful. The Maryland (ElktOn and vicinity,
content to let the name of the man who
deserted his wife without Sufficient cause tas
asserted 40 years ago. rest in oblivion In the house
| holds of these most worthy and respectable de-
| ScendantA IA